Rules & Format
Everything captains and players need to know about the London Foosball League format.
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The London Foosball League is a team-based, club-vs-club competition with divisions suited to different skill levels. Teams arrange fixtures across the season, play home and away matches, and compete for final league standings.
Quick Summary
Team competition
Teams represent clubs and compete across the season.
Fixture windows
Teams play one match per fixture window, with each window approximately every 2-3 weeks.
Multiple divisions
Divisions are designed for different skill levels, from top/open teams to beginner and amateur teams.
Captains arrange matches
Team captains are responsible for arranging fixtures and communicating with other captains.
Home and away fixtures
Teams play opponents in their division twice: once at home and once away.
Matches are 14 sets
Each match consists of 14 sets, with each set played as a race to 5 goals.
Season Format
The London Foosball League runs as a round-robin competition, with teams playing home and away fixtures against the other teams in their division.
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Each team plays every other team in its division twice: once at its home venue and once away. Final standings are determined by the number of points accumulated once all fixtures have been completed.
Fixture windows
Teams play one match in each fixture window. A fixture window is approximately every 2-3 weeks, and fixture windows are published online after registration closes.
Home and away matches
Each fixture has a home team and an away team. The home team is responsible for offering dates within the fixture window and, where applicable, paying for the table or booking cost for the match.
League standings
The final league table is based on points accumulated across completed fixtures.
Division Rules
The league is split into divisions so that teams can compete at the right level.
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For the previous season, the league used two divisions: a 1st Division open to all players, and a 2nd Division for Amateur, Beginner and new players only.
The coming season will use the same underlying rules and format, updated into a clearer three-division pathway.
Premier Division
Top/open level
For top-level teams and the strongest competitive squads.
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Based on the previous 1st Division rules, this division is open to all player ratings, with no BFA player rating restriction. A BFA Class B Licence or higher is required.
Open to all ratings
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Top competitive division
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Winning team becomes League Champions
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BFA Class B Licence or higher required
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Clubs may enter one team into the top division
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Final capacity subject to entries
Championship Division
Intermediate/mixed strength
For improving clubs, mixed-strength squads, and teams that sit between the top competitive level and the beginner/amateur pathway.
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This division acts as the bridge between the Premier Division and the Development Division. Final eligibility and placement will depend on entries, team strength and overall league balance. A BFA Class B Licence or higher is required.
Open to all ratings
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Good for mixed-strength squads
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BFA Class B Licence or higher required
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Bridge between Development and Premier
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Final placement confirmed by LTF
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Designed to keep fixtures competitive
Development Division
Beginner/amateur/new players
For beginner, amateur and new-player teams.
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Based on the previous 2nd Division rules, this division is for Amateur, Beginner and new players only. A BFA Class C Licence is required.
Amateur, Beginner and new players only
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Beginner-friendly pathway
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BFA Class C Licence or higher required
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Perfect starting league for Beginner players
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Clubs may enter multiple teams
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No upper squad size limit
Important note on final division placement
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Final division placement is subject to the number of teams entered, player ratings, squad strength, venue locations and overall league balance.
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London Table Football may advise teams to move division if another division would provide a better competitive fit.
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The aim is to create divisions that are competitive, fair and enjoyable for the teams involved.
Team and Squad Rules
Teams should have enough players to compete reliably throughout the season.
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Captains are responsible for registering their squad, keeping player details up to date, and making sure the team can fulfil fixtures.
Minimum squad
4 players
Teams must have at least 4 players to register for the league.
Recommended squad
6-8 players
A larger squad gives teams more flexibility when players are unavailable, travelling, injured or busy.
Squad Rules
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Teams must register their squad before the season starts
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Captains are responsible for submitting accurate player details
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Squads can be larger than the players used on matchday
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Players should be registered before playing league fixtures
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Player eligibility depends on the division entered
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London Table Football may review squad strength before confirming division placement​
Adding players during the season
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Captains can add players to an existing squad during the season using the Team Entry page.
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Use this for:
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New players joining the club
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Extra squad depth
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Players who become available later
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Topping up an existing squad
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Player eligibility depends on the division entered
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Replacing unavailable players​
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Players are not fully added to a squad until the squad addition form, payment and eligibility review have been completed by London Table Football.
Clubs and multiple teams
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Clubs can enter multiple teams into the London Foosball League. ​
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For the coming season, final team placement and division structure will depend on entries, squad strength and league balance.
Fixtures and captain responsibilities
Team captains are responsible for arranging league fixtures.
Captains will be connected with other captains through private WhatsApp groups so fixture dates can be agreed within each fixture window.
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Each fixture window is approximately 2–3 weeks, and teams play one match in each fixture window.
Fixture windows
Teams play one match in each fixture window. Fixture windows are approximately 2–3 weeks and are published online after registration closes.
Captain Action
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Check the fixture window early and speak to your squad.
Home captain offers dates
Within the first week of the fixture window, the home team captain must offer 3 possible dates to the away team captain. These can be evenings or weekends.
Captain Action
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Offer 3 realistic dates as early as possible.
Captains confirm the match
Once a fixture date is agreed, captains must communicate it to the League Organiser in the WhatsApp group so it can be scheduled in Coral.
Captain Action
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Confirm the agreed date clearly in the group.
Match Format
Each London Foosball League fixture is played as a structured team match. Teams field players across doubles and singles sets, with the winner decided by the team that wins the most sets.
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The match format uses 14 sets, with each set played as a race to 5 goals.
Players
4-6
Each team can field between 4 and 6 players at the start of a match.
Sets
14
Each match consists of 14 sets.
Race to
5
Each set is a race to 5 goals.
Substitutions
4
Up to 4 substitutions can be made during a match.
Scoring
Each set is a race to 5 goals.
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If a set reaches 4-4, play continues into overtime until there is a 2-goal difference, up to a ceiling of 8 goals.
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This means 8-7 wins the set.
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The winner of the match is the team with the most set victories after all 14 sets have been played.
Substitutions and timeouts
Teams may make up to 4 substitutions during a match.
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Substitutions can only be made between sections. Once a player has been substituted, they cannot re-enter the match.
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Each team is allowed 1 timeout per set, with an additional 1 time out each in overtime.
Match Procedure
1. Away team chooses which side of the table they will play on for the duration of the match.
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2. A coin is flipped to decide which team starts with the ball in the first set. After that, kick-off alternates with each set.
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3. If the match is played on a card-operated table, coin-operated table, or a table requiring a paid booking, the home team pays for the match.
Match Order
Each match is played in a fixed order of doubles and singles sets. The match is split into 6 sections, and each player can only play once per section.
Key
D = Doubles set
S = Singles set
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Each player can only play once per section. Substitutions can only be made between sections.
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This is important because it means captains need to think carefully about line-ups before each section begins.
Section 1
D1 v D1
D2 v D2
Section 2
S1 v S1
S2 v S2
D3 v D3
Section 3
D4 v D4
D5 v D5
Section 4
D6 v D6
D7 v D7
Section 5
S3 v S3
S4 v S4
D8 v D8
Section 6
D9 v D9
D10 v D10
Captain Note
Captains should prepare line-ups carefully for each section. Because each player can only play once per section, teams need to balance doubles, singles, substitutions and player availability across the full match.
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Once both teams have entered their line-ups, the match can be launched in Coral. Captains can then enter the results of each set as they are played.
Coral, line-ups and results
The league is run using Coral, the ITSF tournament software at app.tablesoccer.org.
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Clubs, teams and players are registered for the league in Coral by London Table Football during the registration process.
Entering match line-ups
When a match has been scheduled, captains can enter their match line-ups. After both teams have entered their line-ups, the match needs to be launched in Coral.
Submitting results
Captains can enter the results of each set in Coral as the match is being played.
Fees & Payments
League entry is paid online through the Team Entry page.
Captains submit the relevant form, enter their squad details, select the correct payment quantity and pay online as part of the form submission.
Premier Division
£30 per player
For top-level/open teams.
Championship Division
£25 per player
For improving clubs and mixed-strength teams.
Development Division
£20 per player
For beginner, amateur and new-player teams.
How payment works
Payment is charged per registered player.
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For a new team, captains pay for every player in the initial squad.
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For squad additions, captains pay only for the new players being added.
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Payments are completed inside the relevant online form on the Team Entry page.
Important Notes
London Table Football reserves the right to confirm final division placement based on the number of teams entered, player ratings, squad strength, venue locations and overall league balance.
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Some details, including final fixture windows, division capacity and season dates, may be confirmed after registration closes.
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Captains are responsible for ensuring their team understands the rules, communicates clearly, and completes fixtures within the relevant fixture windows.
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For questions, contact:
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